SAN JOSE — Seven years and a tens of thousands of dollars later, marine biologist Nancy Black’s “nightmare” over feeding whales in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is over.

Suggesting Black “lost the path of pure science” in pursuit of glory among her research peers, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila fined Black $12,500 and placed her on three years probation for what a federal prosecutor said was “essentially chumming” for orcas feeding on gray whales in the sanctuary in 2004 and 2005. She must also complete 300 hours of community service.

The fine was half of what federal prosecutor Christopher Hale and probation officer Insa Bel’Ochi asked for but well above the $500 Black’s defense team argued was appropriate.

In a prepared statement issued by Cause of Action, the conservative government watchdog group that helped fund her defense, Black said she was “extremely relieved that this whole ordeal is finally coming to a close.”

“My work is very important to me,” said Black, a researcher and co-owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch, “and I look forward to returning to my passion of studying marine mammals without the distractions that I have had during this case.”

The experience was the “worst nightmare I could ever imagine,” Black said.

Hale, Bel’Ochi and investigator Roy Torres of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declined comment as they left the federal courthouse.

The charges against Black arose from an investigation initiated by Torres in 2006 after complaints by other whale-watch captains who said Black was too aggressive in her approach to whales in the sanctuary.

Torres’ investigation turned up video evidence of Black in her research vessel threading a rope through a piece of whale blubber she had plucked from the ocean while filming an orca attack in 2004. Black said she wanted to keep the blubber close to her boat so she could use an underwater camera to capture the killer whale’s feeding habits beneath the surface.

Also on scene was a documentary crew sent to the area by famed oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Oceans Future Society. It was that crew’s video footage that provided the evidence against Black. Cousteau’s only punishment was the forfeiture of his vessel, the Manfish, estimated to be worth $50,000 to $65,000.

Lead defense attorney Mark Vermeulen of San Francisco said Cousteau was paid $1.05 million for the work his crew did alongside Black that day.

Charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts in 2012, she originally faced a possible 27-year prison term and $700,000 fine. After negotiations described by both sides Monday as arduous, she pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The agreement carried no prison time, loss of her research vessel or ability to seek research work.

A tearful Black apologized to Davila on Monday, saying she was only trying to help the animals by documenting their feeding habits and taking biopsies to help determine chemicals that were contaminating their systems. In a rambling statement, she said a NOAA scientist had asked her to retrieve blubber for testing that day and that she had turned pieces of it over to NOAA.

Sitting in the gallery, Torres shook his head emphatically at the claim.

Cause of Action Executive Director Dan Epstein said Black is the first person to be criminally charged for violating the marina mammal act. Others who committed more egregious actions in the past have received minimal administrative fines.

“Ms. Black’s case illustrates how the power of the federal bureaucracy can affect the lives of hard-working Americans,” he said, calling it a cautionary tale. “When power is unchecked, it becomes unbridled and so individuals and small businesses often end up as victims of its abuse.”

Saying Black had been punished enough by the lengthy and costly investigation and prosecution, Monterey attorney Larry Biegel said it had been turned into a “federal case” in every negative sense of the phrase.

Hale said Black’s conduct was a serious violation of natural resource protocol that deserved the recommended fine, especially considering she lassoed the blubber on more than one occasion.

Davila and Bel’Ochi, whose sentencing recommendation guides the judge, said they were appalled after watching the video of Black in action.

“I think my jaw really did drop,” the federal prosecutor said, adding that she considered recommending a $50,000 fine to send a message to Black and researchers across the country that the behavior was not acceptable.

Davila said it was that deterrence factor that swayed him, though he rejected the recommended $25,000 fine. He told Black he hoped she gets her license back as her experience may make her a better candidate for research.

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